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blasted through Mexico very quickly. I heard it would take
3-4 days and I made it in 2. Needless to say I did not stop
to smell the roses nor wake up and smell the coffee, I just
got in the truck and drove. I met some friendly people,
to be fair, but most of the people I encountered wanted
my money simply because I had it and they didn't. "La Mordida",
the bribe or literally "the bite". I got bitten a couple
of times. No blood or rabies involved but I was pissed.
The first time was the worst. After that I learned to stand
my ground and negotiate. Haggling, if you will. If I didn't
cave in and instead stared them down, usually there was
a little fear in their eyes. Or when I confronted one official
he sheepishly admitted he wanted a handout. I felt better
that I was making a "donation".
Other
memorable moments along the road: Pick-up trucks with 25
people standing in back. Small children playing next to
the highway. Courteous truck drivers signaling it was okay
to pass regardless of a solid yellow line or blind curve.
Numerous speedbumps in every little town and village like
trying to drive over 4 inch steel pipes. Two different maps
that seemed to be for two different countries. Plenty of
potholes and dozens of detours.
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